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| What is Article 14 of indian constitution |
📘 Article 14 of the Indian Constitution – Right to Equality
🔹 Text of Article 14:
“The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”
🧾 Simple Explanation:
Article 14 guarantees that all persons are equal before the law, and everyone shall get equal protection of the laws, regardless of religion, caste, gender, wealth, or social status.
It is the foundation of the Right to Equality in India.
🧍♂️🧍♀️ Who is Protected?
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All persons – Not just citizens, but also foreigners, legal persons (like companies), etc.
⚖️ Two Main Principles of Article 14:
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Equality Before Law (British concept):
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No one is above the law.
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Everyone, from a common citizen to a minister, is equally subject to Indian laws.
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Equal Protection of Laws (American concept):
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Laws must treat equals equally.
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Reasonable classification is allowed, but arbitrary discrimination is not.
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🧠 Example of Reasonable Classification:
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Reservation for SC/ST/OBC is allowed.
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Free education for children under 14 is allowed.
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These are based on intelligible differentia and reasonable purpose, so they don't violate Article 14.
⚖️ Important Supreme Court Cases:
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E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu (1974):
Equality is a dynamic concept and includes fairness and non-arbitrariness in state actions. -
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978):
Article 14 is linked with Articles 19 and 21 — all actions must be just, fair, and reasonable.
📌 Why Article 14 is Important:
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Protects against discrimination by the government.
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Ensures fairness in laws and administration.
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Basis of many judgments protecting human rights and civil liberties.
✅ In Short:
Article 14 = Equal Law + Equal Protection
But equality doesn’t mean identical treatment — the law can treat people differently if the reason is logical, fair, and based on real differences.
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